Etymologically
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sacerdotula

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 23:43. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sa.kɛrˈdoː.tʊ.ɫa][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sa.t͡ʃerˈdɔː.tu.la][1]

Forms

sacerdōtula f (genitive sacerdōtulae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sacerdōs (“priest, priestess”) + -ula, a diminutive.[2][1] ⟨sacerdōs⟩ is from sacer (“sacred”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first in Varro's De lingua Latina.[3][4][5] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a minor or young priestess, and Lewis & Short call it very rare.[2][3][4]

In British Medieval Latin it meant the daughter of a priest.[6]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.[3][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A minor or young priestess.[2][3]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A priest's daughter.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press